Persecuting headgear

[ddstory]

What's a burqa, and does it have a place in our place? That's the question that a number of European societies have been pondering about for some time. In Germany for example, some province ministers of the interior have decided to ban the controversial headgear as part of the measures to counter Islamic radicalization. Other countries already have

Comments

[dexeron]

A bit of a diversion, but I find it very interesting how different places have come up with different ideas on how to deal with the thorny issue of religion vs. the state. In France, they ostensibly have no problem with citizens wearing headscarves or other clothing of religious expression in public (this more recent burka ban notwithstanding) but do not allow it in public schools - even for the students. Here, we don't allow it for teachers and other representatives of state authority (though many flaunt this rule) but it is considered a violation of rights if students are not allowed to wear religious clothing (so long as it's not disruptive.) Both nations would consider their regulations "secular" in nature, and I'm pretty sure that both consider the other's regulations a step too far in one direction or the other.

I'm not arguing that either is really better, because that's a question for folks where they live and what they feel works for them. I just find it fascinating the various ways we've tried to address this ongoing (and seemingly never-ending) issue, and how easily we can rationalize a "proper" level of secularization (or religious expression) based on really nothing more than what we're used to because we grew up with it. (I mean, my first knee-jerk response is to say, of the French laws, "That's far too restrictive of religious liberty!", but is that really something based on any reasoned chain of logic, or merely (far more likely) "I'm used to it being done this way!"?)

[nairiporter]

Which all tells me that people have no idea what they hell they are doing. :-)

[johnny9fingers]

Reasonable inference.

[nairiporter]

Not really, but thank you anyway. :-)

[johnny9fingers]

Well at the moment I'm certainly of the opinion that a lot of folk don't know what they're doing.

But I imagine we all think that way some of the time.

[wight1984]

I think a lot depends on what you think the point and purpose of secularism is.

My support for secularism has always been on the basis that it increases religious freedom, which I think is a good thing. This attitude tends to back the American model.

However, the history of French secularism has it's origins in state conflicts with the Roman Catholic Church and thus is more hostile towards religion.

French secularism is conservative (about preserving traditional values), American secularism is liberal (about increasing freedom).